We put the new KKW body foundation of Kim Kardashian to the test and this is what happened
Kim Kardashian dropped new KKW Beauty body foundation, shimmers, and shimmer powders last week after endless teasing on Instagram. Since Rihanna brought back body shimmer from the grave last year, along with body makeup, it has been having a bit of a renaissance. Kim never sat on a trend (or money-making opportunity), but there was also a strong personal motivation behind this launch. Kardashian has long been open about her psoriasis struggles, and that's partly why she wanted to create her own body foundation version. She discussed how she has been relying on body makeup for years in an Instagram post announcing the launch but has never been able to find the perfect formula. "I'm using this to improve my skin tone or to cover my psoriasis," she said. "I bruise easily and have veins and this has been my secret for over a decade. I've learned to live with and not to be insecure about my psoriasis, but I've been using this Body Makeup for days when I just want to cover it up." She showed the makeup in another post by covering the veins of her grandmother MJ.
But this is a Kardashian we're talking about, and as soon as the intrigue for her fresh products has arrived, controversy has also arisen. There was a backlash on social media from both supporters and other celebrities (most notably Jameela Jamil), who accused Kim of encouraging unrealistic norms of beauty by supporting a "imperfections" product, as Jamil wrote on Twitter (and has since released an announcement).
Others pointed out, however, that the foundation of the body is nothing new. It's been a staple on camera and a red carpet for a long time. There is clearly a demand for it even for so-called "everyday people." (For instance, Sally Hansen sells one million cans of her Airbrush Legs a year—the stuff is crazy popular.) Yes, the legs are perfectly fine with bumps, bruises, veins, and discoloration, but if you want to cover it up, that's 100% your choice.
Jamil, however, also had a point. No one wants to take an extra 10 minutes on body makeup to slather, just to have it drip off your sunny legs or destroy a brand new skirt. Thus, during a hellishly muggy week in New York City, we commissioned three Glamor staffers to put it to the test. Read on to see how it stood up—and if the $45 is worth it.
Bella Cacciatore Despite a few scars and the fact that I'm always covered in bruises somehow, I never really felt like I needed to make up my body (although I love a shimmering body). I am down to try anything, though, and in fact, found the KKW super user-friendly. With the included brush, it went on streak-free, and although the shade light was a little too dark for me, it actually made for a realistic tan, and immediately dried down. Before getting dressed, I found it easier to apply and right after moisturizing.
I tested it twice, once to a full day of work plus a 90-degree rooftop BBQ and a jam-packed club with no AC at night. Oddly enough, during my night out I found it didn't move, but after eight-plus hours of wear, I started looking a little splotchy (luckily none transferred to my clothes). Kim recommends setting it with a translucent powder, so I'd give you a try if you're planning on all-day wear. Before going to bed, both times I washed it off and it took two rounds of an oil cleanser to get off in a shower at 3:00 AM—really, it doesn't budge. Because I usually want to go right to bed, I'd skip this for a night out, but if I had a formal event where I really wanted to look polished, I'd definitely reach for it—especially because it's too expensive to be a daily thing.
Samantha Leach Let me start by saying that I am a Kardashian sucker for anything. Lip kit from Kylie? Yup. New shapewear for Kim? Let me pre-order that. So I was dying to try it after a week of watching Kim tease out KKW Body throughout Instagram stories. I went with a medium/light shade and was immediately impressed when I first put it on. I was still looking natural for my skin, so I didn't use too much product. I didn't have a KKW brush, so I used a dense brush and made sure it was really good to bend it so it didn't streak. Friends told me that in a good way I looked airbrushed. Then I tested her staying power. I spent the whole day hopping in the blazing hot sun, not even streaking, bleeding, or transferring it. It almost stayed on a little too well—it took me multiple wipes and a lot of grease from the elbow to get it all off. That said, if I'm going to wear a short skirt or dress, I think it's totally worth it.
Azadeh Valanejad I wasn't sure what to do with the KKW body foundation, but I was excited to try it after watching all the mesmerizing videos of Kim on Instagram. A makeup artist friend beat my face so I overtook the Body Foundation with the Body Shimmer and Loose Body Shimmer to complete the glam and enjoyed the shimmering bronze look. On a disgustingly hot day, I ran all over the city and was shocked by how well everything stayed on. It didn't feel sticky or melt, and my white shorts were amazingly untransferred. At the end of the day, when I looked in the mirror, my legs looked still airbrushed. So it certainly works, but I would still worry about sitting on someone's couch or forgetting to take it off before bed and ruin my sheets, despite the staying power. Perhaps for events alone.
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